Electric signal lamp



- 1F w F; Y O a M j /5 36 Feb. 24. 1925. 1,527,792

- H. W. FRENCH ELECTRIC SIGNAL LAME Filed Oct. 21.1921

Witnessgs: Inventor: 76 Hen1y,WFrench.

2 S W B 4 v morney Patented F eb. 24, 3925.

HENRY W. FRENCH, F CHICAGO, ILLIHOR.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL LAMP.

Application filed October 21, 1821. Serial No. 503,296.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, HENRY W. FRENCH, a citizen of the United States, anda resi dent of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ElectrioSignal Lamps, of which the following is a' specification.

, My invention relates to new and useful improvements in electric signallamps, and more particularly to electric hand signal lamps adapted foruse while driving an automobile in the dark, and my main object is toprovide a lamp which may be attached to the hand or the wrist and whichis conveniently made operatively by the joints oi? the hand, as byopening and closing the hand.

Another object is to provide such a lamp with means for reading. and forfinding trouble spots around an automobile.

A further object is to provide such a lamp with means to either suspendthe lamp or support it on a flat surface and to provide means thereonwhich will automatical- 1y make contact and illuminate the lamp when sosuspended or supported.

And another object is to provide said contact makin means with adjustingmeans to adapt the amp to hands of different shapes and sizes.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of partshereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings formingl a part of this specification, and

; in whic Fig. l is aview of the device mounted on I the left hand,showing in full lines the hand in released position and the device ininoperative position, and in dotted lines the hand extended and theresultant operative position of the device.

Fig. 2 is a plan view, with parts broken away, showing the devicesupported on a flat surface and in the operative position automaticallyassumed thereby, and

F ig. 3 is a side view, showing the device in the operative position,which it automatically assumes when suspended.

In the form of my invention illustrated the device is shown mounted onthe left hand by means of a strap 7 which is provided with a buckle 8,affording proper atfrom the plate that proper vided tachment on thehand, and which is connected to a metal plate 9 provided with a pad 10of leather or the like for engaging the hand. The device furthercomprises a lamp-case 11 substantially cup shaped in form, provided withside openings 12 and inwardly curved flange 13 at its upper edge, thecase 12 being detachably mounted on the plate 9 by means of threadedmembers 14 as shown, or in any suitable manner. The side openingsprovide means for illuminatmg the hand and for finding trouble spots.

mount the socket 15 of the well-known electric light rigidly in thefront wall of the case 11 with its replaceable bulb 16 located near thecenter of the case and its contact or terminal 1? positioned forward ofthe case. I 19 which is mounted in said case 11, and is provided withthe binding posts 20 and 21, the post 20 extending through the block 19and engaging the case 11, constitutes the second electric terminal andhas one branch 23 of the electric wire 22 attached thereto, while thepost 2]. acts as a supporting post for the otherbraneh 24- of theelectric wire 22 of the electric light circuit. supporting means isprovided for said wire in the form of a cable or strand 25 fastened tothe wire 22 and the case 11, as shown in Fig. 2.

A hinge switch is provided, which comprises a plate 27 provided with abook 28 at its forward end, said plate being mounted on an arm or lug29, extending forwardly 9, by means of a loose or freely swingablc hinge30. An insulating block 31 is mounted on pin-.027 and a bracket 32 ismounted on said block by screws 33, or in any convenient manner. Saidbracket is termed with an arm 3 provided with a threaded collar or boss'35 at its free end in which a threaded member 36 is adjustably androtatably mounted. By the adjustability of member 36 in boss 35, meansis provided for adjusting the switch to the particular size or shape ofthe hand, in order contact is always made between member 36 and'plate17, when the hand is opened, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The wire 22 of the electric circuit is proat its free end with a plug38, of any suitable well known construction, which may be inserted inany suitable socket on the automobile as a gage lamp socket, thespotlight socket, or a similar socket, or a socket provide an insulatingblock Further ported in an may be provided for the purpose on thecardenote-danger, is mounted in the top of the the upper bulged portion ofthe case by rearwardly on means of, a spring wire s1 inserted beneaththe flange 13 and crystal 40, said wire and crystal. being readilyremovable, or the crystal may be removably mounted on the case in anyother convenient manner.

In ogeration my improved lamp is fastened tits the Fig. 1, the switchbeing normally open, in view of'the loose hinge 30, while the hand is ina normally released position; and when a stop is to be made and the armextended from the automobile the hand is naturally opened, therebyengaging the hook 28 on the end of the plate 27 and closing the switch,the threaded member 36 being properly adjusted to suit the particularsize and shape of the hand for makingthe proper contact. As the lightis'illuminated by the closing of the circuit the danger signal isindicated crystal 40 on the -case,.and at the same time the hand isilluminated through the openings 12 to draw attention to the direction.in

which thefingers point to indicate the intended direction oi travel ofthe automobile. The device thus makes a very eficientand efi'ective handsignal lamp for use in driving an automobile in thedark, and the lightis also very useful, by means of its openlugs 12 for, illuminating thepage or an 0t or part around the; automobile, as wel as for reading apaper or anything else. The device ma be strapped to the wrist as wellas as to t e hand, either on the inside or, outside of the wrist and theswitch maybe actuated by the palm or the back of the hand. The liooir 28on the plate 2? or the switch provides means for suspending the device,the construction being so arranged that member 36 automatically engagescontact point 17 on thesocket 15, thereby closing the switch while the.device is suspended, as best shown in Fig. 3, This hook 28 inconjunction with the plate 9 also provide means for supporting thedevice appended claims.

on a flat surface, and while so supported close the switch, asbest shownin I. ig;2.

"While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for car-r ing my invention into efiect, this is capable ofvariation and modification without "de parting from the spirit of theinvention. I, therefore, do not wish to beilimited tothe precise detailsof construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variationsand modifications as come within the scope of the glass or crystal so,preferably case and is held in position in top of the hand, as shown inthe automobile by the .red-

heaviness.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters latent is:-

1. An electric signal device comprising means for mounting said deviceon the back of a hand; a light mounted on said means;

vice on'the back of a hand; a case mounted on said. means; a signallight mounted -1n said case; a circuit for said light; an arm extendingfrom said fastening means; and.

means. loosely hinged to said arm to extend over the fingers of saidhand and provided with adjustable contact means for engaging a contactpoint connected to said light to close said circuit 3. An electricsignal device comprising in combination means including av plate forcoming saic device on the back of a hand; a light mounted on said plate;an arm extending from said plate; a member hinged to said arm inposition to be engaged by the lingers; a circuit including an electricconductor attached to said member; and electric contact means mounted onsaid member "for engaging a co-operating contact connected to saidlight, said contact means being so constructed as to be adjustable tosuit the size and shape of said hand in actuating said hinged member.

4. An electric signal device comprising in combination, means formounting said device on the back of a hand; a light mounted on saidmeans; a circuit for said light; a switch in said circuit including acontact part connected with said light and a memer hinged to said meansand postioned to extend over the fingers, said swil ,h member beingprovided with means to rlspend said lamp and automatically clos saidcircuit while said lamp is suspended;

5. An electric signal device c mprising in combination, adjustable-meansor fastening the said device on the. hand and including a base plate; alight mounted on said late; a contact point connected to said lig it; acircuit for said light, rovided with a' switch member hin ed to saiplate, a hook on said switch mem or for suspending said lamp;

and an adjustable contact point on said switch member for engaging saidcontact point connected to said light for closing said circuit while thelam is suspended.

6. An electric signs device comprising in combination, means forfastening said ale-e member being effective in closing said switch whileso supported.

7. An electric signal device comprising in combination, means formounting said device on the hand; a light mounted on said means; acircuit for said light including a switch provided with a member hingedto said means and a contact point connected to said light; said hingedmember being providerl with means to either suspend said device or to beengaged by. a joint of the attached hand, and in either case toautomatically close said circuit for operating said light.

8. An electric signal device comprising in combination, means includinga plate for securin said device on the hand; a light mount onsaid-plate; an arm extending from said plate; a member hinged to saidarm; a bracket mounted on and insulated from said hingedmen ber; anormally open electric circuit including said bracket; and

an adjustable contact point mounted on said bracket, said hinged memberbeing adapted to be actuated by a part of said hand to engage saidcontact point with a co-operating point on said light and close saidcircuit.

9. An electric signal device comprising in combination; means formounting said device on the hand; a light mounted on said means; acircuit for said light; a switch in said circuit and including a contactelement associated with said light and acontact member hinged to saidmeans, said contact member being provided with means to either suspendsaid lamp or to be engaged by a joint of the attached hand and in eithercase to automatically close said circuit for operating said light saidfirst means downwardly curved parts cooperating with said suspendingmeans to support said device on a flat surface and thereby join themovable and stationary contacts to close said circuit.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY W. FRENCH.

Witnesses:

CLARENCE E. 'lmmnnr, 'FREDA G. Arrnn'ron.

